Our first morning in Mbale, after quite the adventure the day before.
As I stated in my last post, we left from Entebbe around 7:30 pm, after spending most the day in London. We left on a beautiful sunset, but I was exhausted! All I wanted to do was sleep for the next 8 hours... And I did. About 20 minutes into the flight, I became friends with the CUTEST little Ugandan boy ever, sitting near Paul, Megan and I. Because our seats were right next to the bathroom... we had many visitors. While one of the moms on our flight went to the bathroom, I asked to hold her son while she was momentarily gone.
It was then that it hit me that we were headed to Africa for the summer, no turning back, and I couldn't be more excited and anxious to get to Mbale.
Minutes later, we were served dinner and it was during dinner that Paul and I literally fell asleep for the next 8 hours. I remember going in for a bite of food, putting my fork down, and the next thing I know, breakfast was being served and we were preparing to land!!
When we landed in Entebbe, we had to fill out passport cards before getting off the plane. I didn't know where my passport was at the moment, so I remained calm without saying anything to anyone. But knowing myself, seconds later, I started to panick! My life literally flashed through my eyes as I was searching my backpack and I was sure that they were going to send me back to the UK, if not, all the way back to the USA. I said to my cousin, Megan, many times, "Oh my... This is a sign!! I'm not supposed to be here!!"
After a half hour of tearing the entire plane apart, literally!! Megan found my passport glued to the back of hers in an airtight baggie she had placed hers in. We have a video of this I'll post later. AHHHH!!!
Entebbe Airport
Team members waiting for other team members to arrive.
After clearing the airport, we piled into a bus to drive from Entebbe to Mbale- A four drive!! And it was long and bumpy! Because Uganda does not believe in a traffic system, Ugandans are at a complete free-for-all on the roads!!! I was terrified!!! We hit a Ugandan on the way and our driver didn't even stop to see if they were ok. Megan and I were sitting in the front of the bus and while the whole team slept, I was WIDE awake. I didn't want to miss a thing, but I also didn't want to die. It was one heck of a ride.
My team and I on the bus.
On the way into Mbale, we stopped to pick on some fresh pineapple for breakfast. I had never seen such a big pineapple and it was heavy and uncomfortable to hold on a bumpy road.
We also stopped by an orphange on the way into Mbale. It literally changed my life. No electricity, bugs everywhere! Holey clothing, running noses, small bedrooms, but they were SO happy to see us. And just so happy and content with their lives in gen.
Here I am with the daughter-in-law and her adorable son. Her mother-in-law runs the orphanage.
We were dropped off at our new home, for the next three months at 7 pm Friday night. Literally had traveled the entire day the minute we got off the plane. What was supposed to be a four hour drive turned into a full day adventure.
We were treated by an African dinner at the hotel near our home. Our neighborhood is surrounded by hotels!! Eating the questionable red?? sauage and enjoying it...
We then headed home and spent the rest of the night setting up our mosquito nets with no electricity. It was quite a night and again... I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep.
